“As I’m tasting through the Napa Valley new releases—predominately the 2018s—I am absolutely LOVING the sheer variety of delicious red wine styles this region now has to offer. Perhaps a product of the vintage and no doubt as well that of the times, now more than ever, I believe this place truly does offer something for everyone!

2018 Cardano Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Atlas Peak. Cardano Estate is a new project established by Edward Lewis Snider, former owner and winemaker at Beau Vigne. The vineyard is a tiny, four-acre plot of Cabernet Sauvignon situated high on Atlas Peak, at 1,200 feet, in an area called “Prichard Ridge.” These first releases are very impressive indeed, delivering powerful fruit juxtaposed by earthy restraint and with a solid backbone for long aging. With Snider’s son, Nicholas, on board, this is a hot newcomer to the Napa Cab scene and one worth jumping onboard early!”

“The below list is pulled from our 2019 Napa Valley coverage and features the top Cabernet Sauvignons at $100 or less. While value can be hard to define and depends on many factors, the below list encompasses wines I believe punch well above the price point, and these all compete with wines at 2 to 3 times the price.”

2019 Cardano Cabernet Sauvignon Broken Shale
2019 Cardano Cabernet Sauvignon Black Fruit

Ranked #4, 2018 Cardano Cabernet Sauvignon Black Fruit

96 Points, While a small step up in price, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Black Fruit is worth it and is one of the top values found in the vintage. A blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, it has classy, complex notes of blueberries, blackberries, unsmoked tobacco, leather, and white truffle. It’s one of those wines you could smell all night, and it doesn’t disappoint on the palate either, offering full-bodied richness, a seamless texture, and ultra-fine tannins. Enjoy bottles any time over the coming 15 years or more.